10 October 2007

Google acquires Jaiku

Google has announced it has acquired Finnish micro-blogging company Jaiku.

The service offered by Jaiku enables mobile users to share updates on what they're doing through a social networking platform that also offers a mini-messaging service.

It aims to enable users to share activity streams - in other words a log of things that occur during the day - including messages, pictures, recommendations and events that people wish others to see.

On a company blog, Google stated that it is excited about the acquisition of the firm, which has "been hard at work developing useful and innovative applications for staying in touch with the people you care about most - regardless of whether you're at a computer or on a mobile phone".

Under the terms of the arrangement, current users of Jaiku can still use its services normally and new customers will be able to sign up for an invitation to the service when it is ready to expand.

Although the search engine does not yet have any definite plans for its new acquisition, it said it intends "to use the ideas and technology behind Jaiku to make compelling and useful products", adding; "We're excited about helping drive the next round of developments in web and mobile technology."

Jaiku founders Jyri Engestrom and Petteri Koponen said they are looking forward to working with Google and to "accomplishing great things" with the internet giant.

Created in February 2006 and launched in July of the same year, Jaiku is headquartered in Helsinki.

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